I can't comment if his paper is accurate without investigation of all the citations. In general masks are meant to stop larger particulates than what viruses are, that includes the n95 masks. Also medical masks and shields are intended to protect the wearer more than they are too prevent the wearer from spreading their infection. Breathing out puts positive pressure behind the mask causing it to bypass any filtering effect of the mask.
Cloth masks are a complete joke as far as preventing spread unless you're someone who constantly sprays spittle when they talk. If you are that person then no one wants to be in spray range already . Cloth masks will barely filter dust out. The anecdotal story I share about the masks being more about a social construct than a medical one is this. My wife works in reception at a medical office. They started requiring all staff to wear makes but those in non-paitent facing roles (like her) only get cloth masks. They acknowledged that the cloth masks did nothing to prevent the spread but it was important to make masks socially acceptable.
The papers closing does seem to have the conspiracy angle to it which I can't comment on if this is the case or not but overall there does seem to be quite a bit of "virology theater" going on with policy making.
Cloth masks are a complete joke as far as preventing spread unless you're someone who constantly sprays spittle when they talk. If you are that person then no one wants to be in spray range already . Cloth masks will barely filter dust out. The anecdotal story I share about the masks being more about a social construct than a medical one is this. My wife works in reception at a medical office. They started requiring all staff to wear makes but those in non-paitent facing roles (like her) only get cloth masks. They acknowledged that the cloth masks did nothing to prevent the spread but it was important to make masks socially acceptable.
The papers closing does seem to have the conspiracy angle to it which I can't comment on if this is the case or not but overall there does seem to be quite a bit of "virology theater" going on with policy making.